test. test. test. on our broadcast tonight. opening night for the democrats here in charlotte. tonight the first lady is the star attraction of this convention as it gets underway tonight. our political team is here in place. now what? the video that shows the new tsa inspection method at the airport. this time in the waiting area at the gate. testing the luid people can only buy inside the aiort. is it worth it? the new data out on organic food, and why a lot of people may be wondering if their money may not be better spent. making space, the plan to cut down hundreds of big beautiful trees on the streets of l.a. so the space shuttle can travel by road. "nightly news" from charlotte

begins right now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening, and if it's tuesday, must be charlotte. the second of the two conventions this political season. and the democrats, the incumbents get to bat last. a lot has changed since the last time they gathered during those days of hope and change. the nation remains mired in an economic downturn. back then americans were serving in uniform on two fronts overseas. and as of tonight, the nation is still at war. president obama the incumbent now has an opponent to run against. this is the chance for obama/biden to make their case against romney/ryan and ask americans for their vote again. tonight we'll see the keynote and hear from first lady michelle obama.

and with that ahead of us, let's go to our political team here in charlotte. four white house correspondents, current and former, beginning with chuck todd down on the floor of the north carolina delegati delegation. chuck, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. if the republican convention was all about trying to present mitt romney's softer side, the democratic convention has a different goal for the president. shoring up votes from hispanics and women. as workers inside the hall put finishing touches on the convention stage, democrats prepare to appeal to two key constituencies, women and hispanics. they favor the president but lack the enthusiasm they had for him four years ago. leading the charge on women, michelle obama. >> are you ready for this? >> reporter: in all, five of the prime time speakers tonight at the convention are women. charged with delivering tonight's official keynote address, julian castro.

the 37-year-old mayor of san anton antonio. democrats hope his personal story will resonate with latinos. >> my mother worked very hard so joaquin and i could have a good shot in life and reach our dreams. >> reporter: joaquin is castro's twin brother, who will introduce him tonight. he's one of six hispanics speaking tonight. while modern conventions are tightly scripted affairs, before this gathering even started, a basic question tripped up the democrats. >> can you honestly say people are better off today than they were four years ago? >> no, but that's not the question of the selection 37 >> reporter: while martin o'malley reversed himself the next day. >> we are clearly better off as a country because we're creating jobs rather than losing them. >> reporter: it hasn't stopped the republican ticket from exploiting the misstep. even adding an are you better off sign to paul ryan's podium. >> he cannot tell you that you're better off. after getting -- after four years of getting the runaround, what america needs is a turnaround. the man for that job is mitt romney.

>> reporter: and now republicans are making hay over this answer the president gave to a colorado tv station about his handling of the economy. >> you've had three and a half years to fix it, what grade would you give yourself so far for doing that? >> i would say incomplete. what i would say is the steps we've taken in saving the auto industry in making sure that college is more affordable in investing in clean energy and science and technology and research. those are all the things we're going to need to grow over the long term. >> reporter: a little irony on the are you better off argument, jimmy carter, the man ronald reagan defeated using that very question, he addresses the convention tonight by videotape. also of note, there will be a tribute to the last person to defeat mitt romney in a general election, the late ted kennedy. brian? >> chuck todd starting off our coverage tonight. first lady michelle obama, her speech tonight, one of the featured events this evening in

prime time, certainly, andrea mitchell is down alongside the podium here in charlotte. andrea? >> reporter: brian, she's now a political superstar, far more popular than her husband, once a reluctant campaigner, now she's a woman with a mission. michelle obama is now a political pro. her husband's best campaigner, hardly needing to practice with the teleprompters or get a feel for the stage. aids say she will try to project empathy toward struggling middle class families and motivate women voters. >> this election ladies is a choice about supporting women and families in this country. >> reporter: the president said he'll be watching at the white house. >> i'm going to be at home and watching it with our girls, and i am going to try not to let them see their daddy cry. because when michelle starts talking, i start getting all misty. >> reporter: ryan see crest asked mrs. obama about ann romney's speech. >> reporter: ann romney wants to

be the new first lady, she gave a much buzzed about speech at the rnc, what was your reaction to her speech? >> you know, i didn't watch it. >> reporter: mrs. obama will try to inspire young people to vote. here with ross matthews for e! news. >> voting is how this country runs. and it's our responsibility at whatever age to exercise the rights that people before us fought so hard for us to have. >> in the white house, she's worked for military families, fought childhood obesity, become a regular on late night. >> being out there, touching people, talking to people, it really gets me focused on what we're doing and why we're doing it. >> reporter: if her husband is sometimes called too cool, she's all about hugs. connecting to people with a physical embrace. >> look, she's completely at ease, completely comfortable, again, the best advocate that we could possibly have for the president. >> reporter: four years ago, mrs. obama was trying to make america more comfortable with her. now she's trying to make

americans feel better about her husband. brian? >> andrea mitchell down by the podium for us tonight. andrea, thanks. by the way, if it sounds like we're at the convention, there's no glass behind us as there was at the republican convention. savannah guthrie and david gregory are here. welcome to you both. savannah, the role the first lady appears to be put in tonight. >> this was someone who was kind of thrust into public life and unenthused about this public role. i talked to an aide today, who said, she's comfortable with the fact that her kids are okay. that's allowed her to expand her horizons. you used to hear white house aids grumble she didn't get out on the campaign trail as much as they'd like. i had one tell me today, she gave us more dates on the

campaign trail than we expected or hoped for. she appeals to women, certainly. minority voters, there's no audience they wouldn't be comfortable putting her in front of right now. >> david, let's talk about the keynote, there are some who predict they will take texas and turn it purple and even blue in a few years. >> they want to highlight the young mayor julian castro. you think about nevada or colorado, even this state, there's a feeling among the democrats that republicans made some in roads with their show of diversity. they want to lead with their best foot, remind hispanics that the democratic place is the home for them. critical to the president's re-election chances that he runs up that number with hispanic voters. >> thanks to you both, a quick note tomorrow here in charlotte, we're going to sit down for an

exclusive interview with former president clinton. that's hours before he is due to address this gathering. we'll have that interview for you here on "nightly news" tomorrow night. brief update on our weather. it's hard to separate the remnants of hurricane isaac from just plain late summer rain, it was a lot of each today that rained out the u.s. open in new york. it's also a big factor this week here in charlotte, a big chance of precipitation every day this week, including thursday when the president's speech is supposed to be in an outdoor open stadium. the democrats say they'll go ahead with it, unless, of course, it becomes a public safety issue. as you see, there's a lot of rain out there. there is a new tropical storm. leslie is 600 miles south of bermuda. not moving much, but kicking up the surf in places like puerto rico. we mentioned this at the top of the newscast, the tsa is in the news again tonight.

and some travelers may decide they have reached their limits when they hear about this one. for all we've gotten used to over the years, shoes off, belts off, laptops out, no liquids allowed, there's something new. would you believe testing the liquids you yourself buy inside the terminal where we're allowed to have liquids? our report tonight from nbc's tom costello. >> reporter: an unexpected sight at the columbus airport, two tsa officers holding a test strip over passenger's drinks to check for explosive vapors after the passengers had already cleared security and bought the beverage in the concourse. dan holland was there with his wife and son. >> having someone come up to me and demand i submit to another search without really any probable cause seems a bit much. >> reporter: the tsa says the drink screening has been going on for years as it employs multiple layers of security throughout the airport. it limited passenger's carry on liquids and gels in 2006.

after terrorists plotted to blow up u.s. bound passenger planes with u.s. explosives over the atlantic. screening drinks bought in the gate area is meant to guard against potential threats from inside the concourse, perhaps an employee who could smuggle in an explosive and hand it off to a passenger. but while airline passengers face the prospects of additional screenings every day, neither the trusted vendors nor the airport employees are screened every day. and the tsa won't say how often they are screened. screening drinks bought in a supposedly secure environment garnered mixed emotion today. >> kind of ridiculous, excessive maybe. >> i would rather get on a plane knowing i'm safe. >> it's a worthwhile thing for them to do. you can't be too safe. >> i am a little concerned about how invasive its getting. >> passengers who decline the beverage check may be denied boarding. two years ago the tsa invited us into its laboratories as it tested equipment it hoped could sniff out explosives inside plastic bottles. >> we're trying to measure and

quantity how much of a gas is leaking out from a liquid via the plastic seals and bottles. >> reporter: foolproof technology has proven elusive. an unpredictable offense at airports remains the best defense. tom costello, nbc news, washington. still ahead as we continue tonight, is eating organic food actually better? it sure does cost more, tonight we'll show you what a team of doctors concluded when they looked through all the available evidence. and later after the great success of the summer olympics, the new games in town. with a 90. a 90% smaller needle. announcing fluzone intradermal vaccine, a 90% smaller needle, wow that's...short. to learn more talk to your health care provider. [ female announcer ] fluzone intradermal vaccine is fda approved for 18-64 year olds. it shouldn't be given to anyone with a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine component including eggs, egg products or a prior dose of influenza vaccine.

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farmers markets from coast to coast, increasingly, americans are buying organic. in 1997, u.s. seals of organic foods topped off at $3.6 billion. fast forward to 2010. sales total more than $26 billion. the reason? >> you want to put something on your table that's healthy. and strayed from the farm is the best place to go. >> whether that's healthy or not, i don't know. it makes even the -- it makes eating more interesting. >> reporter: more interesting maybe, but a new stanford university study concludes that organic foods are no more nutritious than their conventional alternatives. >> we didn't find stronger evidence of higher nutritional content in organic foods. we did find differences in the risk of detecting pesticide residues. >> reporter: according to the report, organic produce is 30% less likely to carry pesticide residues than other fruits and vegetables. and organic chicken and pork are 60% less likely to have bacteria

resistant common antibiotics. it may take years to link pesticides and antibiotics to long term health problems, but these are issues we have to consider today. >> i really think people should be thinking about knowing where their food comes from, how it's grown, that it is economically, that it is environmentally sound. >> reporter: according to those who study food purchasing preferences, millennials, those under age 30 are driving the trend. >> they're choosing to want to eat more pure foods and organics is part of that decision process. >> reporter: organic farmers and ranchers don't claim their foods are healthier, more than half of them in a recent poll believe organic is nutritious. your best advice, buy local. the shorter the distance between farm to table the better it's going to be. and the more nutritious. brian? >> going to have people questioning a lot of things. nancy, thanks.

one more note here about what we consume these days. the number of milk drinkers is on the decline in america. milk sales in our country have fallen to the lowest level in nearly three decades. as americans shift toward bottled water and all kinds of other drinks. up next here tonight, hundreds of beautiful trees coming down so the space shuttle can roll through the streets. that's the plan in l.a., and not everybody likes it. made a commitment to the gulf.fp and every day since, we've worked hard to keep it. bp has paid over twenty-three billion dollars to help people and businesses who were affected, and to cover cleanup costs. today, the beaches and gulf are open for everyone to enjoy -- and many areas are reporting their best tourism seasons in years. we've shared what we've learned with governments and across the industry so we can all produce energy more safely. i want you to know, there's another commitment bp takes just as seriously: our commitment to america.

bp supports nearly two-hundred-fifty thousand jobs in communities across the country. we hired three thousand people just last year. bp invests more in america than in any other country. in fact, over the last five years, no other energy company has invested more in the us than bp. we're working to fuel america for generations to come. today, our commitment to the gulf, and to america, has never been stronger. you know how hard if yit can be to breathedo,

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some other items in the news tonight, this new book about the bin ladin raid called "no easy day" has been outselling "50 shades of gray" during the advanced sales period on amazon. because of the book by a former navy seal and the secrets it reveals within it, today the rear admiral who heads the navy special warfare command took the extraordinary step of reminding those under his command they

must never reveal what they do on the job. we should quickly add, most never do. in los angeles, there's growing dismay tonight over what the city is doing to make way for the arrival of the retired space shuttle endeavor. they are cutting down 400 trees. many of them mature beautiful trees in a city that needs them. our report tonight from nbc's mike taibbi. >> reporter: they're cutting down some 400 trees, including many mature pines and magnolias reduced to stumps, so the five story high, 78-foot wide endeavor can move down the streets. some are not amused. >> you're sitting at a stoplight, that little bit of shade is gone. it is a concrete jungle. it's more like new york than los angeles. >> that's stupid. replant them, why cut them down? >> reporter: once the endeavor is in place, they'll plant twice as many trees as will have been cut down. but removing the trees on the route selected was the only option. dismantling endeavor or

airlifting it were deemed impossible. so good-bye trees. the 12 mile trip from l.a.x. to the science center next month was supposed to be a two-day parade along this route, with an overnight slumber party included. while that still may be true, it's not all that's true. >> reporter: to get it to its resting place on the streets broad enough to accommodate it, power lines will be raised, some streetlights will be removed and hundreds of trees will bite the dust. >> not only do we get to participate in history, we get our trees replaced two for one. so we're very happy here in the city. >> reporter: there are plenty of people who think it's worth it. >> i'm really excited to see the endeavor, it's a once in a lifetime chance, i'm glad to see it happen. >> reporter: but this is california, where anything involving trees is big news. from the plight of the giant redwoods a century ago, to the old tree downed by age and

weather in old hollywood this morning. to the revelation that moving this modern national treasure to l.a. will cost some urban greenery that goes back generations. mike taibbi, nbc news, los angeles. we'll keep you updated on that story as it goes on. here's another sign of the times. according to data compiled by "usa today," voice mail is fading fast. down almost 10% in a year's time. according to the internet phone company vonage, people are sick of the process, the prompts, the elaborate introductions, and wherever possible customers prefer to send a text or e-mail instead of voice mail. up next here tonight, the games inspiring a lot of people, including young americans back from the front lines. one try ca. one try can relieve your nightly congestion without the blowing the stacking the steaming. that's the transformative power of one ingenious little breathe right. try one free at breatheright.com and open your nose instantly.

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and nbc's stephanie gosk. >> reporter: the paralympic games opened to a packed house. the torch was relit, the queen came again, though not by parachute this time. >> stretch your wings and fly. >> reporter: an opening ceremony as spectacular as the last one. >> the crowds will be unprecedented. these will be games to be remember. >> reporter: so far they have been, millions of brits are tuning in and buying tickets. this tv promo has been everywhere. rocketing an old public enemy song into the top ten. there was a touch of controversy. an iranian medal winner wouldn't shake kate middleton's hand for religious reasons. mostly these games have been marked by excitement. >> we enjoyed the olympics so much, we just wanted to be a part of it. >> reporter: like the olympics, these games are about the competition.

>> very amazing how they cycle with one leg and run and stuff with no legs. >> reporter: from pole vault. >> look at the speed -- >> reporter: to wheelchair basketball to sitting volleyball. the mantra here is don't watch out of pity, watch because it's exciting and inspiring. the athletes here say, this is about showing what human beings can do, not what they can't do. american angela madison is paralyzed from the waist down. >> somebody who doesn't believe they can and doesn't try, that's a disabled person to me. >> reporter: scott winkler a u.s. army vet was injured in iraq. >> we're no different than anyone else. >> reporter: former u.s. army airborne has this advice. >> get up. life is too short to lay down. go get it. >> reporter: a message that everyone, regardless of ability can embrace. stephanie gosk, nbc news, london. >> great story to end on on a tuesday night. thank you for being here with us.

we're back on in prime time tonight with the big speeches of the evening. including the first lady. our coverage begins at 10:00 eastern 7:00 pacific. i'm brian williams, we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening, and we hope you can hear us even better. good night from charlotte. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com prcandidate is more likely toion return us to full employment. this is a clear choice. the republican plan is to cut more taxes on upper-income... people and go back to deregulation. that's what got us in trouble in the first place. president obama has a plan to rebuild america from...